It continues west for another 247 kilometres (153 mi) as Dawson Developmental Road to Tambo on the Landsborough Highway.

The timber bridges were replaced with concrete structures to increase freight efficiency and flood immunity along the Dawson Highway.

[10] A project to replace a timber bridge over the Barcoo River immediately north of Tambo, at a cost of $7 million, was expected to complete in mid-2022.

[15] A project to strengthen and widen sections of pavement between Banana and Rolleston at a cost of $6 million was completed in December 2020.

[17] A project to construct a heavy vehicle bypass of Biloela for the Dawson Highway at a cost of $2.7 million is due for completion in late 2022.

[19] A project to upgrade and seal sections of the Dawson Developmental Road, and to build a new bridge over the Barcoo River, at a cost of $57 million is expected to finish in mid-2023.

[17] The Queensland Inland Freight Route is a proposal to upgrade the existing highways from Charters Towers to Mungindi.